Ayrton Oneill
Will Sheridan Jr., born on January 12, 1985, is a former college basketball player who played for the Villanova Wildcats Men's Basketball program from 2003 to 2007. He is 6 feet 8 inches tall and played as a forward. After graduating from Villanova University, he played briefly in the Italian Basketball League before returning to New York to pursue a career in music. He is also a rapper, musician, recording artist, DJ, event curator, and professional MC and host. Sheridan is openly gay and has used his platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion in sports.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Will Sheridan Jr. |
| Nickname | Bump |
| Date of Birth | January 12, 1985 |
| Height | 6'8" (203 cm) |
| Weight | 240 lbs (108 kg) |
| Position | Forward |
| School | Villanova (Men) |
| College Team | Villanova Wildcats |
| College Major | Communications |
| Career Highlights | Set career-high points (19) and rebounds (14) in NCAA games with Villanova Wildcats; returned to court in 2024 for an LGBTQ+ tournament hosted by the National Gay Basketball Association |
| Post-Basketball Career | Rapper, musician, recording artist, DJ, event curator, professional MC and host; released several music projects including EPs and LPs |
| Sexual Orientation | Gay |
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What You'll Learn
Will Sheridan's basketball career at Villanova University
Will Sheridan Jr., born on January 12, 1985, is a former college basketball player who played for the Villanova Wildcats Men's Basketball program from 2003 to 2007. Standing at 6'8" , he played as a forward and was recruited to join the Division I basketball team at Villanova University, where he majored in Communications.
Sheridan started playing basketball in high school at Sanford, where he was ranked among the top 50 prep players in the nation by Basketball Times. He continued his success at Villanova, starting for all four seasons with the Wildcats. During his time with the team, they experienced a transformation into a national powerhouse. In addition to his athletic pursuits, Sheridan also penned a journal for the Philadelphia Daily News during Villanova's 2006 NCAA tournament run.
Sheridan's time at Villanova was also marked by his journey of self-discovery and acceptance. During his freshman year, he privately came out as gay to his teammate and roommate, Mike Nardi, becoming the first member of the Villanova team to know. Over the years, he gradually shared this aspect of his identity with other teammates as he grew more comfortable and trusted them. His teammates responded with acceptance and unity, opting for a "wall of silence" to protect his privacy and maintain team cohesion.
After graduating from Villanova at the end of the 2006-2007 season, Sheridan briefly played international basketball in Italy before returning to New York to pursue a career in music. He became a rapper, musician, and recording artist, initially signed with Royal Advisor Records, and released his first EP, "Ngoma." Sheridan has since released several other projects, including full-length albums and EPs, and has performed at various music festivals around the world.
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Will Sheridan's experience as a gay athlete
Will Sheridan Jr. is a former college basketball player who played for the Villanova Wildcats Men's Basketball program from 2003 to 2007. He is 6'8" tall and played as a forward. After graduating, he played briefly in the Italian Basketball League before returning to New York to pursue a career in music.
Sheridan came out privately to his teammate and roommate at Villanova, Mike Nardi, during his freshman year. He also came out to his parents after his first year at university, and his teammates at Villanova also knew about his homosexuality. However, they kept a "wall of silence", opting for team unity. On May 16, 2011, Sheridan came out publicly at the age of 26, after retiring from basketball. He is only the second former Division I male basketball player to publicly come out as gay, with British former player John Amaechi being the first.
Sheridan has spoken about the homophobia he faced as a gay athlete, including taunts and jeers from opposing teams using his sexuality as ammunition. He also felt that his sexuality was out of bounds at Villanova, almost like he was living two lives. He experienced rejection from his father, who cut him off financially and emotionally, although they have since reconciled.
Despite the challenges, Sheridan's teammates at Villanova were accepting of his sexuality, and he has said that college sports teams could be an okay place to come out due to the strong bonds formed. He has also discussed the importance of pushing for a better experience for gay athletes than just "no overt homophobia", as tolerance is not enough in the long run.
Sheridan is now a rapper, musician, recording artist, DJ, event curator, and professional MC and Host. He has released several music projects, including the pioneering LGBT Hip Hop EP, S.O.A.P. (Sex on a Platter). He is also a professional event coordinator with a New York City-based production company.
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Will Sheridan's post-basketball music career
Will Sheridan Jr. is a former college basketball player who played for the Villanova Wildcats Men's Basketball program from 2003 to 2007. Standing at 6 feet and 8 inches tall, he played as a forward. After graduating from Villanova University, he played briefly in the Italian Basketball League before returning to New York to pursue a career in music.
Sheridan's first gig was entitled "The Will to Win" at the Spark Center, a tiny café attached to an Italian restaurant in New York. He then released his first EP, "Ngoma" (meaning "music" in Swahili), with his first video, "Welcome to the Jungle", showcasing a decidedly African rhythm and the constant refrain of the word "asante", which means "thank you" in Swahili. This video went mini-viral on YouTube. Sheridan followed this up with the single "302", which is the area code for Bear, Delaware, where he grew up.
Sheridan's debut as an openly gay hip-hop artist was met with much anticipation, with RapIreland.com posting that he could be "their very first openly gay Hip Hop artist". He has since released six other projects, including "G.I.A.N.T.", his first full-length LP, as well as "G2R" and "LexIcon", all available on major online music outlets. Sheridan has also released the critically acclaimed LGBT Hip Hop EP, "S.O.A.P. (Sex on a Platter)", and the album "G2", which he gave away for free. In addition to his music career, Sheridan is also a DJ, event curator, and professional MC and host. He has performed at various music festivals around the world, including the Outlander Music Festival in Austin, Texas, and the Yo Sissy Music Festival in Berlin.
Sheridan's journey into music was inspired by a 10-day trip to Nairobi, Kenya, where he worked at the Ruiru Rehabilitation Center. This experience added to his personal power and inspired him to pursue a career in music, which he believes is a true form of self-expression. Sheridan's music is a mix of house, hip-hop, and African rhythms.
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Will Sheridan's participation in LGBTQ+ tournaments
Will Sheridan Jr. is a former college basketball player who played for the Villanova Wildcats Men's Basketball program from 2003 to 2007. He came out privately as gay to his teammate and roommate, Mike Nardi, during his freshman year at Villanova. After graduating from Villanova, Sheridan played basketball in Italy before returning to New York and pursuing a career in music.
Sheridan has since become a rapper, musician, and recording artist, releasing several projects, including EPs and albums, and performing at various music festivals around the world. He has also been a DJ, event curator, and professional MC and host. In addition to his musical pursuits, Sheridan is a professional event coordinator with a New York City-based production company.
As an openly gay man in sports and music, Sheridan has broken new ground and is considered a pioneer in the LGBTQ+ community. He has returned to the basketball court to participate in LGBTQ+ tournaments, such as the Brotherly Love Hoops Classic, hosted by the National Gay Basketball Association. Sheridan has also faced homophobia and taunts from fans about his sexuality during his time as a basketball player at Villanova.
Sheridan's participation in LGBTQ+ tournaments is significant because it helps to break down barriers and promote inclusion for LGBTQ+ individuals in sports. By being open about his sexuality and returning to the court, Sheridan inspires others to be their authentic selves and helps to create a more welcoming and diverse athletic community. His presence at these tournaments also helps to increase the visibility of LGBTQ+ individuals in sports and challenges stereotypes and misconceptions.
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Will Sheridan's impact on the sports and music industries
Will Sheridan is a former college basketball player who played for the Villanova Wildcats Men's Basketball program from 2003 to 2007. Standing at 6'8", he played as a forward and was ranked among the top 50 players nationally by Basketball Times during his time at Sanford High School. After graduating from Villanova University, he played briefly in the Italian Basketball League before returning to New York and pursuing a career in music.
Sheridan is a rapper, musician, and recording artist. He initially signed with Royal Advisor Records and released his first EP, "Ngoma". He has since released several other projects, including "G.I.A.N.T.", his first full-length LP, as well as "G2R" and "LexIcon", all of which are available on major music platforms. Sheridan has also opened for notable artists such as Drake and Peaches and has collaborated with artists like Cakes da Killa and Big Dipper. In addition to his music career, Sheridan is also a DJ, event curator, and professional MC and host.
One of the most significant impacts of Will Sheridan's career has been his role as an LGBT sports and music pioneer. He came out as gay to his teammate and roommate at Villanova, Mike Nardi, during his first year and later to his parents after his first year at university. His teammates at Villanova knew about his homosexuality but kept a "wall of silence" to maintain team unity. On May 16, 2011, at the age of 26, Sheridan came out publicly in an interview with Dana O'Neil on ESPN.com, becoming only the second former Division I male basketball player to do so.
Sheridan's music also contains themes of homosexuality, with songs like You Know I Got It and Set Fire in the Streets addressing the topic. His work as an LGBT artist in both sports and music has helped to break down barriers and increase visibility for the LGBT community in these industries. He has returned to the court playing in an LGBTQ+ tournament hosted by the National Gay Basketball Association, and his work at USLI involves encouraging people to be their authentic selves and serving on their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Team.
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Frequently asked questions
Will Sheridan is 6'8" (2m03 / 6-8) tall.
Will Sheridan played as a small forward.
Will Sheridan played basketball for Villanova University, also known as Villanova.
After graduating from Villanova, Will Sheridan played basketball in Italy before returning to New York and pursuing a career in music. He is now a rapper, musician, recording artist, DJ, event curator, and professional MC and host.
